Mechanization

9. The main point of promoting farm mechanization is to increase
productivity and alleviate labor shortages. In 1970, the government
announced a four year plan to accelerate farm mechanization. A
fund for this purpose was established 1977. For the most important
crop, rice, nearly 100 % mechanization has been achieved for everything
from planting to harvesting.

10. Sugar cane harvesting has long been mechanized. Though the
importance of sugar has declined, it used to be the leading export
crop, and it earned a great deal of foreign exchange.